Discharge means for coke ovens



Nov. 7, 1950 G. PADGETT DISCHARGE MEANS FOR COKE OVENS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1946 Nov. 7, 1950 G. PADGETT DISCHARGE MEANS FOR COKE OVENS '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1946 Nov. 7, 1950 G. PADGETT 2,529,045

DISCHARGE MEANS FOR COKE OVENS Filed June 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 7, 1950 G. PADGETT 2,529,046

DISCHARGE MEANS FOR coma OVENS Filed June 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 7, 1950 G. PADGETT 2,529,046

DISCHARGE MEANS FOR COKE OVENS Filed June 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

Gradzy paclgiezi Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,529,046 DISCHARGE MEANS FoacoKn-ovENs T Grady Padgett, Beaver, Pa. Application June 18, 1946, Serial No., 677,557

This invention relates to means for withdrawing coke from vertical coke ovens, and has for its principal object the provision of movable apparatus for discharging coke from such ovens whenever desired with minimum loss of gases and maximum control of the falling coke.

In present practice, the lower oven door is swung away from the oven and the coke is permitted to drop several feet into a car below. This causes breakage of the coke with consequent increase of fines, and flamesmoke and dust escape into the air, with consequent waste of gases, discomfort to workmen and spreading of deleterious substances over the neighboring terrain. An object of the present invention is to do away with or materially lessen the losses and objectionable features incident to the present practice.

Another object of this invention is the arrangement in a coke-receiving car of means for unfastening and removing a sealing plate on the bottom of a vertical coke oven, loosening and moving the door supports, vertically lowering the door along with the coke. at controlled speeds, guiding the movement of the coke from the lowered door to the car coke-carrying compartment, and replacing the door and sealing plate, with one placement of the car.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a hollow coupling movable into position surrounding the discharge opening of the oven and connecting the oven with a substantially dust-tight coke compartment of the car, for the purpose of sealing in the dust, fiameand gases during the discharge operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means for horizontally moving the sealing plate and means for vertically moving the door and dust-enclosing coupling into and out of operative positions whenever desired;

A further object is the arrangementfof means for accurately spotting or placing the cokereceiving car below the coke oven in the exact position required forproper eflicient operation of the several mechanisms used in completing the.

discharge of coke from and resealingof the coke oven.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference numerals des-.

my improvedcoke discharging apparatus posi-' 18 Claims. (Cl. 21418) tioned beneath a coke the car being removedand parts being broken away t'o'dis'close the interior arrangement;

Fig. 2 is'a'view similar to Fig. 1 with portions of the apparatus'shown in other positions as-' Fig. 4 is a view similar to 3 with portions of the apparatus shown in other positions as-' Fig. 6 is an enlargeddetail view, showing the means for loosening (and tightening) the sealing plate in elevation at the left and in section at the right of the figure;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view, showing one, of the rollers carried by the sealing plate loosen ing means for guiding such means in its vertical and horizontal movements, such roller and sup-,

porting bracketbeing shown in plan at the left and in end. elevation at the right of the figure;

Fig. 8 is a detail View showing the apparatus for vertically moving (and swinging) the coke: V oven door in'another position assumed in opera tion, and

ing the oven door support bars out of their normal supporting positions preparatory to lowering the.

door.

, Referring now to the embodiment illustrated' herein byway of example, only the lower portion of a single'vertical coke oven Ill is shown, though it is to be understood: that such coke ovens are ordinarily arrangedjinbatteries of any desired"- number'. f The walls of coke oven H) on opposite sides of the coking chamber are formed of suitable refractory material supported at their lower extremities on strong girders .l] of I-beamrconstruction, and cast steel frame l2 delineates the edges of discharge opening 13, forming guides for the passage of door I4 into and out of closing I position. Door I4 .is arranged for vertical moveis'supported by a hori zontal'metallic plate [5 in turnsupported by an I-beam girder l5 of lesser heightthanu rders I I1 supporting the oven walla;

To the'foot of girder f6 arepivotally connected at oven, the side plating of j and sealing plate in closing least a pair of spaced support bars H which, when turned to substantially the position shown in Fig. 1, will engage the upper faces of the bottom flanges of girder I I and distribute the load of the door I4 and coke resting thereon to such girders II.

To prevent escape of gases, smoke, etc., a sealing plate I8 is preferably arranged below the discharge opening I3. Such a sealing plate may be mounted in various ways, for; example, as shown in my copending application Serial No. 511,618 and now Patent No. 2,475,512 granted July 5, 1949. In the illustrated embodiment of;

the present invention, however, I have shown sealing plate I8 mounted just below girders II of the coke oven (Fig. with its upper face normally contacting a pair of channel irons I9 fixed to the lower flanges of girders II, and pressed thereagainst by means of clamps adapted to engage the lower flangesof channelmembers 2 I, alsosecured to the lower flanges of girders II exteriorly of channels l9 and preferably having inclined lower edges tofacilitate movement of the clamps to and from clamping positions, substantially as shown. Clamps 20 are mounted for swinging movement in horizontal planes, being herein shown as fixed upon vertical stub shafts 22 journale'd in brackets secured to the .lower face of sealing plate I8. At its lower extremity each stub shaft 22 carries a substantially coneshaped gear 23, which cooperates with mechanism hereinafter described .for loosening and tightening the sealing plate I8 whenever desired.

As best shown in Fig. 3, there are a number of provided on the car for cooperation with switch members located adjacent the tracks for accurately spotting the car in correct position below any coke oven, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Car 24 is provided with a coke compartment 25 adjacent one end thereof, and with means for loosening the sealing plate from the coke oven, and moving it to one side, means for installing a connection between car and oven to retain dust, flame, soot, etc.,iwhen the coke is being withdrawn, means for taking the load of the door and coke resting thereon from girders H, means for swinging support bars I! out of engagement with girders II, means for lowering door I4 and v a portion of the coke through the dust connec-. tion into car 24 at predetermined low speeds,

means for swinging thedo orout ofthe way of the falling coke and moving an .inclined section beneath to direct the falling coke into coke compartment25 and, after the withdrawal of the coke from the oven, restoring the door to its former position closing discharge opening I3, replacing the sealing plate and retightening the clamps of the sealing plate.

Car 24 is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1 with its near side plating removed to show the vertical, horizontal and oblique channel members used as reinforcement, and it will be noted that I-beam girders, as 2 5a, are arranged across the car, with their ends incorporated into vertical channel members, where needed, as in supporting the incline 24b forming one wall of the coke compartmerit of the car. It will be understood, however,

-rails 28 supported at the top of the car (Figs. 1

V shaped gears 36. SpringsjIIZ encircle such inter-.

and 3) ;Desired movements of frame 26 are secured by energizing the reversing motor 29 turning, through suitable reduction gearing, a gear wheel meshing with rack 36 carried by the frame.

Travel limits of frame 26 may be accurately determined through chains or cables 3| unwound from or rewound upon reels 32 connected and arranged substantially as shown. ,The frame 26 is in an intermediate position while ,the caris being spotted beneaththe desired cokeoven I 0 of a battery. Thenthe mechanism for loosening the sealing plate I8 is moved into engagement with the cone-shaped gears 23, inclined surfaces 33 being utilized to elevate such mechanism after it has been aligned. The clamp loosening (and tightening) mechanism is best shown in Figs. 1 and fi, and comprises a pair of girder 34 externally carrying rollers 35, which engage the inclined surfaces 33 of frame 26, and between which are supported a number of cupshaped gears 36 adapted to fit over the coneshaped gears 23 of the sealing plate clamps. The mechanism for simultaneously rotatingfsuch cupshaped gears 36 comprises a'motor 31 driving,

through suitable reducing gearing, a pair of elongated shafts 38 extending across the car and carrying worm wheels 39 respectively meshing with worm gears 40 mountedadjacent the lower extremities of each of the stubsh'aftsll carrying cup-shaped gears 36. 7

To provide a cushioned engagement between gears 23 and 36 and take-up differences in heights due to wear, warping of some of the gears, or the like, cup-shaped gears .36 may be mountedupon the stub shafts 4| substantially a s shown in Fig. 6, with the upper portions; of s tub shafts BI polygonal in cross section. and slidingly fitting in polygonal sockets in the lowerportions of cupfitting portions, their ends engagingshoulders on the gears 36 and bearing members carried by shafts 4| When the clamps 20 have been swung through substantially ninety degrees, thev sealing plate I8 will be free and may readily. be moved from below the discharge opening of the coke oven to. a position at, ,oneside-thereof. This is accomplished, by-moving the frame 26 and rack 36 to the right,f as fro n'theposi-tion"shown in Fig. 1v to substantially the position shown in Fig. 2.

The rollers 35 will roll downtheinclined surfaces 33, lowering theiclamp loosening mechanism'and sealing plate simultaneously'QWhen the rollers 35'engage abutments 43 of thefra me the lowering movement ceases and the sealing plate will be transported to the right simultaneously with the frame 26. 3 5

dust couplingand with,. the, coke oven Ill. vAs illusr ed in ol ers wgon .theupper section 44 normally rest in contact with abutment 43 and adjacent inclined surfaces 41 of the frame 26, such surfaces 47 being inclined in the opposite direction from that of inclined surfaces 33 with which the clamp loosening and clamping mechanism is operated. In such normal position, the upper section a l of the dust coupling will be transported by frame 26 until the lower edges of upper section it are brought into engagement with the upper edges of the lower section 45 of the dust coupling. The two sections may be made to flt quite snugly and effectively prevent escape of gases, smoke, flame, etc., at this point, as by inbending the upper portion of lower section 45 to form a groove receiving the lower portion of upper section 44. Suitable packing is provided on either or both sections of the dust coupling.

Lower section 45 of the dust coupling is mounted on the framework of the car in such a manner that it is capable of sliding vertically for limited distances. Accordingly, after upper and lower sections 44 and 15 have been joined by movement of frame 26, then further movement of such frame to the right will tend to bring in clined surfaces ll under rollers iii to elevate both sections of the dust coupling until engagement is made with the channel members 2| which had formerly supported the sealing plate l8. A substantially horizontal surface is proe vided at the upper extremities of inclined surfaces ll to enable maintenance of the dust coupling in raised position while the coke oven is being discharged. It will be understood that the dust coupling extends laterally beyond the sides of the coke oven discharge opening, and the walls thereof are separated sufficiently to permit vertical movements of the door I4 and door operating mechanism, as well as the falling coke, through the dust coupling. A flange 35a is provided at the lower extremity of lower coupling section 45, and packing 45b (Fig. 1) is positioned to be engaged by such flange 45a whenever the dust coupling is elevated. A flexible flap 450 may also be provided between the packing 45b and rail eiihereinafter described, to retain dust, smoke, etc., within the coke compartment 25 of the car.

,The means for lowering doorl l into car 24 through the dust coupling will now be described. A'door lifting and lowering member 69 ismounted within the car so as to be raised into engagement with girder N3 of door It, then raised slightly further to relieve support bars I? of the weight of the door and coke resting thereon, and then, after the support bars ll have been swung out of engagement with girders I!, such member 49 is lowered simultaneously with door It and the charge of coke. As best shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 8, door lifter 59 comprises a framework guided for vertical movements within spaced -U-shaped guide frames 58, the upper portion of door lifter 49 being forked, with the tines spaced from each other a sufficient distance to enable straddling of the lower flange of girder It carrying oven door It. A cross bar at the bottom of the forked portion of the door lifter engages the foot of girderv it when the door lifter is sufliciently raised, and slight further elevation will transfer the weight of door l4 and coke resting thereon onto door lifter 49, relieving support bars 1'! and girders ll of such weight.

Vertical movements of member as aresecured from motor 5-! driving, throughfsuitalole reduction gearing, a gear wheel'52 meshing with a rack 53 ;0n-d00r lifter -49. It will be understood that at least two of such door lifters 49 are provided in-each coke car, and that Figs. 3 and 4 herein illustrate only half of such coke car, the remaining hal'f, however, being a substantial duplicate of the showing herein. Motor 5! may drive an elongated shaft cm (Fig. 3) operating reduction gearing elements for each door lifter mechanism, so that raising and lowering of all the door lifters 49 in the car will proceed simultaneously. The U-shaped guide frames 59 of each elevator mech-, anism are pivotally mounted adjacent their lower extremities substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the pivot shaft 5 3 being journaled in appropriate bearings carried by the car. Means are provided for rocking door lifters as and guide frames 5%] on pivots 54 whenever desired. As herein shown, a motor 55 drives through suitable reduction gearing pinion 5t, meshing with rack 5'! pivotally connected at one extremity with the upper portion of frame 5%) of the door lifter mechanism. The two or more door lifters ii) carried by car 24 are connected to each other by a plurality of channel members 58 (Fig. 3) simultaneous rocking movements of lifters.

Means for turning support bars i'i whenever desired are also carried by channel members 58, and preferably comprise forked turning members 59 mounted at the upper extremities of rods 68 journaled for rotary movement in suitable bear ings. A motor 6! is mounted on the lower channel member 58 connecting door lifters 39, and appropriate reduction gearing is provided beall door tween the motor and rod to to slowly turn fork member 59 when desired. A flexible coupling 62 may also be aranged between upper and lower portions of each rod 68 to accumulate power from the motor and soften somewhat the swinging movements of the support bars ii. In Fig. 9 is shown such a flexible coupling wherein the upper and lower sections of rod 66 are joined together through a strong spring 63 secured at its ends to a plate 64 carried by the upper rod section and a cage 65 carried by the lower section of rod 60, plate 6% being guided in slight vertical movements relatively'to cage 55. 7

After freeing door it from girders ii of the coke oven by swinging support bars H a sufficient distance through operation of fork members 59, the coke oven door M with its attached girder l6 and support bars I! are lowered at relatively slow speeds through the dust coupling and into car 24, a portion of the coke within the oven lowering simultaneously with the door. When door lifters as have reached their lowermost positions, the upper surface of door it will have reached a position within. the car just below channel iii extending laterally across the car.

Then when motor 55 is energized to rock the door lifter mechanisms, door id is swung to theleft' in Fig. .1 so as to remove it from the path of the sliding coke. Channel is operates as a station ary rake to hold back the coke as door Hiv is" swung, Simultaneously an inclined chute section 240 (Fig. 1), which is carried by the door lifter frames 5E3 is moved into the position just occupied by oven door It. Inclined chute section 24c bridges the span between the upper extremity of inclined floor-24b of coke compartment 25 of the car and channel ill. Coke will now discharge from coke oven It in a comparatively smooth movement, sliding down the inclined chute sec. tion 2&0 and floorv 24b, intocoke compartment 25. Preferably the length of the inclined floor por to insure tion of the coke compartment 25 is substantially equal to the height of the oven, and a sufficiently steep incline is provided to avoid retarding movement of the coke, since the head of its fall will constantly decrease. A reverse incline 24d is provided in the floor at the opposite side of coke compartment 25, the falling coke passing over door 246, through which the coke may be deposited whenever desired. This comparatively gentle discharge of the coke from coke oven ID results in a minimum of breakage and assists in reducing many of the disagreeable features ordinarily incident to the discharge of coke ovens. Thus the noise is lessened, and the escape of gases, smoke, flame, etc., is checked.

The means for spotting the coke car in exact position below the oven desired to be discharged is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. A switch member 56 pivotally mounted upon the car is adapted to be lowered into contact with a stationary switch member 61 located adjacent the track and forming part of a light circuit and/or indicator circuit, which includes a light or other indication at the top of the oven below which the car is being spotted. This indication at the top of the oven is to prevent accidental charging of the oven at the wrong time or opening of doors 7 or valves during the discharge operation. Ob-

viously many forms of switches and/or indicators may be utilized, so that a diagrammatical showing is believed to be sufficient herein.

An electric switchboard 63 is also shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Various switches may be arranged and connected for operating various motors, as motors 29, 31, and 55, in their proper sequence. An operator seated adjacent switchboard 68 may throw the desired switches at will.

From the above it will be obvious that I have provided a mobile unit carrying all of the necessary apparatus for carrying out the various steps required in discharging coke oven is whenever desiredat a single placement of such mobile unit. It will be noted that inclined surfaces 33 and 41 are designed with their intermediate portions steep to efiect a rapid raising or lowering of the mechanism for loosening (or tightening) the clamps of the sealing plate [8 or dust coupling i, 45, whenever desired, while the lower and upper portions of such inclined surfaces are comparatively flat to effect a very slow movement of such mechanisms at the ends of travel. Many other advantages and meritorious features will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that the present disclosure is subject to variation and modification within the spirit and scope of the subjoin ed claims.

' I claim:

1. In discharge means for a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position, the combination of means for unlatching said door, and means for lowering said unlatched door from its normal closing position and simultaneously lowering the cook from within the oven at controlled speeds, said last-mentioned means being mounted for swinging movement out of the path of the falling coke during the discharge of the oven.

2. In discharge means for a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position, the combination of means elevatable into position contacting said door to preliminarily lift said door, and means for unlatching said door while in such lifted position, said first-mentioned means then lowering said unlatched door and a portion of the coke' from within the oven at controlled speeds. 1

3. In discharge means for a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position, the combination of means elevatable into position contacting said door to preliminarily lift said door, and means for unlatching said door while in such lifted position, said first-mentioned means then' lowering said unloached door and a portion of the coke from within the oven at controlled speeds,- both of said means being movable to and from a position directly below said oven.

4. In discharge means for a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in'closing position and a plate latched in sealing position-below the door, the combination of means for unlatching said sealing plate and moving it from the path of movement of the door, means for'unlatching said door, and means for lowering said unlatched door from its normal closing position.

5. In discharge means for a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position and a plate latched in sealing position below the door, the combination of means for unlatching said sealing plate and moving it from the path of movement of the door, means for unlatching said door, and means for lowering said unlatched door from its normal closing position, said last-mentioned means being arranged to swing said lowered door out of the path of movement of the discharging coke.

6. Discharge means for coke ovens of the character described comprising means for unlatching the oven discharge door, means elevatable into position contacting said door, holding said door while it is being unlatched, and then lowering said door and a'portion of the coke from within the ven at controlled speeds, and means for guiding the discharging coke as it falls from the oven.

7, Discharge means for coke ovens of the character described comprising meansfor unlatching the oven discharge door, means elevatable into position contacting said door, holding said door while it is being unlatched, and then lowering said door and a portion of the coke from within the oven at controlled speeds, and means for guiding the discharging coke as it falls from the oven, all of said means being mounted for movement into position directly below the coke oven.

8. Discharge means for coke ovens of the character described comprising means for unlatching the oven discharge door, means elevatable into position contacting said door, holding said door while it is being unlatched, and then lowering said door and a portion of the coke from within the oven at controlled speeds, means for guiding the discharging coke as it falls from the oven, and a dust-enclosing casing movable into a position surrounding said means during the door low- ,from within the oven at controlled speeds, and

means for then'guiding the falling coke into said coke-receiving compartment.

10. A coke discharge car for withdrawing coke from a coke oven of the character described, said car having a coke-receiving compartment, and carrying means elevatable into position supporting the coke discharge door, means for unlatching said door while supported by said first-mentioned means, said first-mentioned means being then lowerable to lower said unlatched door and a portion of the coke from within the oven at controlled speeds, means for swinging said door out of the path of movement of the discharging coke, and means for guiding the discharging coke into said coke-receiving compartment.

11. A coke discharge car for withdrawing coke from a coke oven of the character described, said car having a coke-receiving compartment, and carrying means elevatable into position supporting the coke discharge door, means for unlatching said door while supported by said first-mentioned means, said first-mentioned means being then lowerable to lower said unlatched door and a portion of the coke from within the oven at controlled speeds, means for swinging said door out of the path of movement of the discharging coke, and means for guiding the discharging coke into said coke-receiving compartment, said coke car also carrying a dust-enclosing housing movable into position surrounding the discharge opening of the oven and the lowering door during the discharge operation.

12. In discharge means for a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position, and a plate latched in sealing position below the door, the combination of means movable into position below the oven for unlatching said sealing plate, and means for moving the unlatched sealing plate to one side.

13. A coke discharge car for withdrawing coke from a coke oven of the character described, having a latched sealing plate, said car carrying a movable frame, means for unlatching said sealing plate mounted on said frame for movement therewith and also for movement relatively to said frame, and means for moving said frame.

14. A coke discharge car for withdrawing coke from a coke oven of the character described, having a latched sealing plate, said car carrying a movable frame, means for unlatching said sealing plate mounted on said frame for horizontal movement with the frame and also for vertical movement relatively to the frame, and means for moving said frame.

15. A coke discharge car for withdrawing coke from a coke oven of the character described, said car carrying a dust-enclosing casing having a plurality of sections, one section being mounted for vertical movement only, a movable frame mounted on the car, and a section of said dustenclosing casing mounted on said frame for horizontal movement with the frame and also for vertical movement relatively to the frame, and means for moving said frame.

16. A mobile unit for discharging coke from a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position and a plate latched in sealing position below the door, said mobile unit carrying means for unlatching and removing said sealing plate, means for unlatching said door, means for lowering said unlatched door and the coke from within the oven, means for swinging said door out of the path of the discharging coke, and means for guiding the discharging coke to a desired location.

17. A mobile unit for discharging coke from a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position and a plate latched in sealing position below the door, said mobile unit carrying means for unlatching and removing said sealing plate, means for unlatching said door, means for lowering said unlatched door and a portion of the coke from within the oven, and means for swinging said door out of the path of the discharging colre, said means being reversible in action, whereby said door and sealing plate may be returned to their normal positions and relatched m such positions during a single placement of said mobile unit.

18. A mobiie unit for discharging coke from a coke oven having a discharge opening normally closed by a vertically movable door latched in closing position and a plate latched in sealing position below the door, said mobile unit carrying means for unlatching and removing said sealing plate, means for unlatching said door, means for lowering said unlatched door and a portion of the coke from within the oven, and means for swinging said door out of the path of the discharging coke, an inclined chute carried by said mobile unit for guiding the discharging coke, said last-mentioned means being connected and arranged to swing into the path of the discharging coke a section of said inclined chute.

GRADY PADGETT.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,095,725 Gohmann May 5, 1914 1,492,399 Schafer Apr. 29, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 304,899 Germany Apr. 17, 1918 313,811 Italy Jan. 9, 1934 582,403 Germany Aug. 14, 1933 669,556 Germany Dec. 29, 1938 685,102 Germany Dec. 12, 1939 

